| Description | Typed transcript of pp.1-50 of Belgrave's diary for 1 January to 30 April 1953. Topics covered include arrival of the advertisement for James Belgrave's forthcoming book 'Welcome to Bahrain' with a cover designed by his father (3 January), a visit from Sir Thomas Rapp, head of the Middle East Office (6-7 January), anti-Jewish propaganda (8 January), meeting with various MPs including John Freeman, Barbara Castle and James Johnson (Labour) and Conservative MP Brigadier Terence Clarke (20 January), a large fire that destroyed about 150 'barasti' dwellings (3 February), attempted suicide of Bill Steele - son of the former electrical engineer Bill Steele and a childhood friend of James Belgrave (6, 11 February), construction of the new church (13 February), a press proclamation aimed at the local papers (17 February), cinema visits (18 February, 27 March, 28 April), arrival of copies of James Belgrave's Bahrain book (25 February), another visit from Gerald de Gaury (2-20 March), a visit from Fadhu Yamali, Iraq Foreign Minister (4 March), meetings with Elizabeth Monroe who wrote for the Economist and other papers (and later cofounded the Middle East Centre at Oxford) (12, 16 March), a dinner for General Auchinleck (25 March), news of the appointment of Bernard Burrows as the new political resident in succession to Sir Rupert Hay (28 March), sale of some 900 copies of James Belgrave's book (30 March), departure of Sheikh Sulman's son, Sheikh Ali bin Abdull, for London for alcoholism treatment (8 April), amateur production of 'Blithe Spirit' at Manam (9 April), fete (17 April), RAF concern that the aerodrome is unsafe for Comets and may need expensive development (20 April), and difficulties in James Belgrave's engagement (30 April.) |